Huge congratulations are in order.
Father Ray Kelly has made it through to the Britain’s Got Talent semi-finals.
The 64-year-old priest from Oldcastle, Co Meath became a viral sensation in 2014 after his special cover performance of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah captured hearts across the country.
He auditioned for Britain’s Got Talent earlier this year, where he left judges and viewers alike with his rendition of R.E.M’s Everybody Hurts.
Simon Cowell even ended up calling it “one of my favourite ever auditions.”
It looks like we’ll be set to see a lot more of Fr. Kelly, as Saturday night’s episode showed him getting through to the Britain’s Got Talent semi-finals.
Before it was his turn to take to the stage, he was seen telling another contestant:
“I have visions of going back to my parish and telling them I got through to Britain’s Got Talent.Â
“It would blow their minds, you know.”
Alongside three other acts, the Meath native waited to hear the verdict.
Amanda Holden was the one who got to deliver the good news, telling the performers:
“Only on Britain’s Got Talent could this line-up be possible. And we have come to a decision.”
Turning directly to address Fr. Kelly, she said:
“You better thank him upstairs, sir, because you’re all through to the next round.”
He will now join the other 34 contestants who were selected as well as the five Golden Buzzers acts, who have already secured their place in the live semi-finals.
